Are you suffering from tooth or gum pain? If so, you should call your dentist quickly to make an appointment. Here, our Orangeville dentists discuss the possible causes of tooth pain and how you can alleviate your discomfort until your dental appointment.
The Causes of Gum & Tooth Pain
It doesn't matter if the toothache pain you are experiencing is minor or severe, it's always best to have a dentist diagnose the underlying cause as quickly as possible. Most of the time, a rigorous oral hygiene routine will prevent toothaches or discomfort. However, many potential factors can cause tooth or gum pain, including the following:
Tooth Decay/Cavity
While cavities generally come on gradually, pain can arise suddenly. This should be taken care of as soon as possible to prevent an infection.
Trauma, Grinding, or Injury
Whether you grind your teeth in your sleep and gradually wear them down, or you sustain an injury in some more immediate way, for instance, while playing sports, a fractured or damaged tooth can be very painful – don’t ignore it. Your dentist may recommend treating it with a filling, crown, or bonding.
Grinding may also cause tooth sensitivity issues. Ask your dentist for tips on how to break this harmful habit.
Wisdom Teeth
When wisdom teeth become impacted, it could be fairly painful because of the pressure placed on the surrounding teeth, or infection. Wisdom teeth that are impacted could also cause secondary problems such as tooth damage and crowding if there isn’t enough space for them to erupt properly.
Abscessed Tooth
Bacterial infections could result in pus-filled pockets. This doesn't just cause painful sensitivity, but may also develop into a more serious, or even life-threatening condition.
Gum Disease
Gum disease (periodontal disease) can range from early-stage (gingivitis) to moderate and severe. In the early stages, your dentist might be able to treat your gingivitis with a procedure known as scaling and root planing – the process of removing plaque buildup from the gum line.
If your case is more urgent and has progressed to severe gum disease, you might require a root canal, antibiotics, and/or surgery.
Other Possible Causes
You should know that some people experience temporary tooth sensitivity, that doesn’t always indicate a serious problem.
Using toothpaste made for sensitive teeth might help. You should also do your best to avoid eating extremely hot or cold food and drinks until the sensitivity is gone.
If you are experiencing ongoing sensitivity (for more than a couple of days), there could be a more concerning issue, such as gum recession, and you should visit your dentist.
There are also times the issue that’s causing your tooth pain may lie outside your mouth. Viral or sinus infections, vitamin deficiencies, headaches, or colds may cause symptoms similar to what you might feel with a toothache.
However, it’s still worth it to schedule an appointment with your dentist as ignoring or misdiagnosing the pain yourself could lead to serious issues. Most dental pain won’t stop on its own and should be assessed by your dentist.
Ways to Alleviate Tooth Pain
If you want to know how you can relieve tooth pain, the first and most obvious answer is to make an appointment with your dentist so that the problem can be diagnosed and treated.
Meanwhile, there are several home remedies for tooth pain you can try. Apply an ice pack or take over-the-counter pain medication to reduce pain and inflammation. In some cases, a saltwater rinse can also help soothe and relieve tooth pain.